In this issue ... 9-11 Commemoration
2
In the News
3
Laurels
4
Founders Week
JAY BAKER
News for the Campus Community — November/December 2004
Richard Himelfarb congratulates President Ramsay at the gala.
President Ramsay Honored with $8 Million Scholarship Fund ED FISHEL
President David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil, who has led the University during a period of unprecedented advancement over the last 10 years, has been honored with the establishment of the Presidential Scholarship Fund. Contributions totaling more than $8 million already have been made to the fund. The Presidential Scholarship Fund was announced at the annual UMB Founders Week gala on Oct. 14 by Richard J. Himelfarb, chairman of the board of trustees of the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc., and senior executive vice president of Legg Mason, Inc. A campaign quietly began last year to raise money for this endowment fund, which is
intended to offset rising tuition costs by reducing student educational debts that often exceed $100,000. The Presidential Scholarship Fund will help the University to continue attracting the best and brightest students. The seed money for the fund was a gift from Bess and Frank Gladhill of Frederick County, Md., parents of Sue Gladhill, vice president for external affairs. Other contributions include three, $1-million gifts from: John Gregory, a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, and his wife; Comcast Cable; and friends of former U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti (see story on page 3). In total, more than 200 individuals and organizations have contributed to the Presidential Scholarship Fund.
During Ramsay’s 10 years as president, the University has attained unparalleled levels of excellence in scholarship and research, service to the community, patient care, technology, homeland security, and economic partnerships. Research dollars have tripled over the past decade and the University has had an extraordinary economic impact on the City of Baltimore, the state, and the region. Ramsay also spearheaded the development of the UMB BioPark, which began construction in January and will accept its first tenants in early 2005. A short video tribute to Ramsay can be viewed at http://media.umaryland. edu:8080/ramgen/oea/ramsay.rm. In announcing the Presidential Scholarship Fund, Himelfarb said, “These generous contributions assure the next generation of deserving students the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming dentists, doctors, lawyers, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and even future faculty members.” “I am honored by this remarkable tribute,” said Ramsay. “The Presidential Scholarship Fund will enhance the University’s endowment and create a foundation for our success, and the success of our students, well into the next decade and beyond.” For anyone interested in making a gift to the Presidential Scholarship Fund, an online giving form is now available at: www.umaryland.edu/givingform. Donors may designate gifts to a particular school or campus program. An honor roll of donors will be published in a spring issue of the VOICE.
New Civiletti Scholarship PAGE 3
5-6
Police Ceremony
7
FYI
9
Calendar
10
UPM Pharmaceuticals Joins BioPark, Gives to Presidential Scholarship Fund says Harold Chappelear, president of UPM. “The BioPark’s first-class facilities and laboratories will give us the capacity to strengthen our role as leaders in drug development and manufacturing, and creators of new An artist’s rendering of the finished BioPark. drug formulation technologies.” James Hughes, MBA, UMB MIKE LURIE vice president for research and development, says, “Companies When the doors open at the first are finding it very attractive to building of the UMB BioPark locate near the University and next spring, a Baltimore-based work closely with faculty. We are drug technology firm will be delighted to have such a relationamong the first occupants. ship with UPM Pharmaceuticals University Pharmaceuticals of as the first building of the BioPark Maryland, Inc., (UPM) has nears completion.” reached an agreement to lease In a related development, UPM space in the six-story complex that has made a gift of $1-million to the will offer 120,000 square feet for new UMB Presidential Scholarship offices and labs in the 700 block Fund through a gift from Mr. and of W. Baltimore Street, University Mrs. John Gregory. John is an officials announced in October. investor in the company and an The provider of contract drug alumnus of the School of Pharmacy. development, manufacturing, The gift is in recognition of analytical and regulatory consultPresident Ramsay’s support of ing services was formed in 1997 public-private partnerships and the by members of the School of founding of UPM. Pharmacy. The firm embodies UPM will open for business the kind of innovative business in the first of seven buildings development that University planned for the BioPark, which officials are targeting as prospeceight acres of research will feature leaseholders in the BioPark. tive labs, offices, parking facilities, “We are excited about our and green space. The BioPark is working relationship with the scheduled for completion in 2014. University and the BioPark,”
Debate Over Drug Importation Comes to UMB and C-Span Networks MIKE LURIE
Two members of the University faculty sit on opposing sides of the drug importation debate: Should prescription drugs be imported from Canada to help people save money on their medications? Cynthia Boyle, PharmD, director of the Experiential Learning Program, School of Pharmacy, is firmly against the notion of allowing imports, even though price controls make them less expensive. Thomas Perez, JD, assistant professor, School of Law, and Montgomery County councilman, supports the concept. Boyle and Perez’s views are so polarized on this hot topic that the two debated before students and members of the University community on Oct. 27. The debate was held at the School of Law, with David
Knapp, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy, serving as moderator. Also on the debate panel were Peter Rost, MD, a vice president with Pfizer Inc., and William Hubbard, a senior associate commissioner for policy, planning, and evaluation at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Perez and Boyle also appeared in August on Maryland Public Television (MPT), sharing their conflicting opinions. “Even though the debate logistics were challenging because Tom was in Rockville and I was in Owings Mills, I have received positive feedback on our televised debate from a variety of people: at work, through organizations, and at home in Harford County,” says Boyle. “I don’t have a scientific sampling, but one of my fellow Maryland Pharmacists Association board members who
saw the MPT interview e-mailed me to say she thought I was informed, controlled, informative, and presented my views with sincerity and intellect. I feel that was true of Tom also.” Colleagues also complimented Perez’s coherent argument on MPT. “With the exception of the biotech industry, the reaction I have received from people regarding the MPT appearance has been uniformly positive,” Perez says. “People tell me it’s time to break the logjam on Capitol Hill. They’ve also told me that my friend Cynthia is a formidable debate opponent.” Boyle is the current president of the Maryland Pharmacists Association and an officer in the American Pharmacists Association. Having served patients in community, health-system, and consulting pharmacy practice, she
supports the safety of drug products in a system of coordinated patient care. Perez has argued that drug importation from Canada can be structured safely if participants are allowed to purchase no more than a 90-day supply of FDA-approved maintenance medications used to treat chronic conditions. He chaired a Montgomery County Council task force that found that a drug importation program could save the county $6 million annually if 40 percent of those eligible participated, and as much as $15 million with 100 percent participation. “This issue is important and timely because the affordability of prescription drugs is the number one consumer issue in America,” Perez says. “Cynthia and I have a shared interest in enhancing access to affordable prescription
drugs. The ‘how to’ part of it is where we disagree.” The debate was aired twice nationally on Oct. 28 on the C-Span Networks: C-Span and C-Span 2.
GIVING TO UMB A gift made in honor of a loved one, teacher, student, or colleague is a wonderful way to recognize a person’s life and accomplishments or to commemorate a special occasion, such as a birthday, graduation, or anniversary. For more information or to contribute to UMB online, visit www.giving.umaryland.edu.